ABSTRACT
Obesity in childhood is associated with the presence of complications that can undermine health immediately or in the long term. Several conditions, such as pulmonary or orthopedic complications are strictly associated with the severity of overweight, since they are directly associated to the mechanic stress of fat tissue on the airways or on the bones. Other conditions, such as metabolic or liver complications, although increasing with the extent of overweight, are associated with insulin resistance, which can be modulated by different other factors (ethnicity, genetics, fat distribution) and can occur in overweight children as well. No less important are psychological correlates, such as depression and stigma, which can seriously affect the health related quality of life. Pediatric services for the care of childhood obesity need to be able to screen overweight and obese children for the presence of physical and psychological complications, which can be still reversed by weight loss. This article provides pediatricians a comprehensive update on the main complications in obese children and adolescents and their treatment.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Depression/etiology , Health Status , Insulin Resistance , Musculoskeletal Diseases/etiology , Obesity/complications , Respiratory Tract Diseases/etiology , Adolescent , Behavior Therapy , Body Mass Index , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Child , Counseling , Depression/epidemiology , Diabetes Complications/epidemiology , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Life Style , Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology , Obesity/epidemiology , Obesity/therapy , Overweight/complications , Prevalence , Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Weight LossABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate eating disorder variables and self image in Italian female adolescents asking for a weight control treatment. METHOD: Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (1991) and Offer Self-Image questionnaire (1989) were administered; 100 subjects (75 outpatients and 25 controls) were enrolled over a period of three months and divided into three study groups (normal, overweight and obese), and one control group. RESULTS: The relationship between BMI and problematic personality traits tends to be linear and positive. Obese adolescent females describe themselves in more negative terms than non-obese individuals and show a psychological profile similar to individuals with eating disorders, especially for Drive for Thinness and Interoceptive Awareness. Even in the absence of overt mental pathology, obesity can result associated to a psychological distress and it's a risk factor for mental health.
